South Bay's 66th Assembly District race a tight rematch between Craig Huey and Al Muratsuchi

Of the 80 Assembly districts in California, most political analysts say there are only four in which either a Republican or a Democrat could win in next month's election.

One of those races is in the South Bay, and the competition for it is fierce -- so much so that Republican candidate Craig Huey earlier this month directed his attorney to send a cease-and-desist request to opponent Al Muratsuchi over an inflammatory and possibly incorrect piece of campaign literature. A representative for Muratsuchi said the campaign stands by its mailing, which dealt with Huey's business record.

The race in the newly redrawn 66th Assembly District pits Muratsuchi, a Torrance school board member and state prosecutor, against Huey, who lives in Rolling Hills Estates and owns a marketing and advertising firm in Torrance. It's a rematch of the June primary, when Muratsuchi won 40.9 percent of the vote, beating Huey by roughly 2 percentage points. In that race, Republican Nathan Mintz won 20.6 percent, but only the top two finishers were eligible for the Nov. 6 general election.

"Both are being funded by their political parties," said Allan Hoffenblum, a Republican political consultant in Los Angeles. "It's a target. The question is, 'Is Huey too conservative for the district?' We'll find out on the first Tuesday in November."

The new district stretches from Manhattan Beach south to Rancho Palos Verdes and goes from the Pacific Ocean roughly to the Harbor (110) Freeway into Gardena, Torrance and Lomita. According to state registration records, 39 percent of voters are registered Democrats while about 35 percent are Republicans. The remainder either decline to state an affiliation or belong to a different political party.

"The numbers suggest this is an evenly drawn seat, one that could be won by a Republican or Democrat," said Darry Sragow, a Los Angeles lawyer and the former chief strategist for Assembly Democrats. "This one will presumably be tight."

It has also turned occasionally testy. Huey said he asked his lawyer to contact Muratsuchi's campaign after his opponent sent out a mailer accusing Huey of marketing fake Alzheimer's and diabetes cures for senior citizens.

"Instead of running on the issues and talking about the issues, it's just been an effort to destroy my family and my business," Huey said. "I have never even marketed an Alzheimer's product or a diabetes product."

The Muratsuchi campaign stands by its mailing, consultant Michael Shimpcock said. He questioned why Huey asked for the letter.

"It's a tactic that a lot of campaigns use when they don't want their candidate's history revealed to the public," Shimpcock said.

That issue aside, the debate between Muratsuchi and Huey has fallen along familiar political lines. For his part, Muratsuchi argues Huey is too extreme and puts conservative ideology ahead of fixing problems.

"I believe that Sacramento is dysfunctional because there are too many ideologues on the far left and the far right," Muratsuchi said. "I think voters want more problem solvers and not ideologues. If voters want an ideologue, tell them to vote for my opponent."

Huey counters that Muratsuchi will be a cog in the Sacramento Democratic machine, caucusing with the party that has controlled the Assembly since late 1996 and now holds 52 of 80 seats.

Huey also has been telling voters that if Democrats pick up two Assembly seats, they would control two-thirds of the chamber, allowing them to pass tax increases under California law. (The state has required two-thirds majorities, rather than simple majorities, to pass tax increases since voters approved Proposition 13 in 1978.)

Most political strategists say it is unlikely Democrats will pick up two seats, but it is possible. They would also need a two-thirds majority in the Senate, which is considered a more likely scenario.

"They could pass any tax or law that they want and the Republicans become irrelevant," Huey said. "I think it's a strong message. But most people don't quite understand it."

Both candidates have simple messages for voters about their qualifications. Huey said his business experience makes him the right candidate to help grow California's economy and create jobs. Muratsuchi stresses his experience on the Torrance school board -- he said he has helped balance seven consecutive budgets -- and as a state prosecutor investigating doctors who break state law.

From January through the end of September, Muratsuchi raised more than $900,000, while Huey raised almost $800,000. Both had about $275,000 in cash on hand as of Sept. 30 and have raised considerable amounts from their state parties.

Muratsuchi also has an edge in so-called independent expenditures -- spending by groups not directly associated with the campaign.

Through Oct. 18, a group called Californians for Fiscal Accountability, Dentists, Physicians has spent more $240,000 against Huey, according to state campaign finance reports. The California Teachers Association has spent almost $40,000 in support of Muratsuchi, campaign records show.

"There's no way I am going to outspend him on TV and phone calls and direct mail," Huey said, adding that he has raised more money than any other Republican Assembly candidate.

Part of that money is his own, campaign finance records show. Huey has loaned his campaign at least $100,000, according to state reports.